diff --git a/config/matchers.go b/config/matchers.go
index 477ed9b56e..433fa69b44 100644
--- a/config/matchers.go
+++ b/config/matchers.go
@@ -20,5 +20,5 @@ type Matchers struct {
 	// "suse"
 	// "ubuntu"
 	// "crda" - remotematcher calls hosted api via RPC.
-	Names []string `yaml:"names" json:"names"`
+	Names []string `yaml:"names,omitempty" json:"names,omitempty"`
 }
diff --git a/config/updaters.go b/config/updaters.go
index bfea1bb7da..cb00a3b8c8 100644
--- a/config/updaters.go
+++ b/config/updaters.go
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ type Updaters struct {
 	// TODO(louis): this is only used in clairctl, should we keep this?
 	// it may offer an escape hatch for a particular updater name
 	// from running, vs disabling the updater set completely.
-	Filter string `yaml:"filter" json:"filter"`
+	Filter string `yaml:"filter,omitempty" json:"filter,omitempty"`
 	// Config holds configuration blocks for UpdaterFactories and Updaters,
 	// keyed by name.
 	//